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Reds considering moving Chapman to closer

Reds considering moving Chapman to closer

NEW YORK -- There could be a change coming in the Reds' closer role, with manager Dusty Baker hinting late Saturday afternoon that he might turn from Sean Marshall to Aroldis Chapman.

There was bumpy ending to Cincinnati's 6-5 victory over the Yankees. For the second time in 10 days, Marshall could not complete a save and needed to be bailed out.

"Like I've said before, you've got to graduate to that position," Baker said of Chapman. "Who knows? Maybe graduation time is here. We've got to talk about it. As a matter of fact, I've already talked to him about it. We'll see. Marshall is a team man. It's not what he signed up for. He was forced into it. He signed up to be our setup man in the eighth."

After inheriting a 6-3 lead in the ninth Saturday, Marshall allowed two runs and four hits while facing the bottom portion of the Yankees' order. Jose Arredondo retired the final two batters for his first big league save. On May 9 at Milwaukee, Marshall loaded the bases in the ninth and needed Logan Ondrusek to complete the save.

Marshall is 1-2 with a 5.02 ERA and seven saves in 16 games. Chapman is 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA, seven walks and 38 strikeouts. He has recorded at least one strikeout in all 17 of his appearances. His only run allowed over 21 1/3 innings was unearned vs. the Mets on Thursday. Chapman worked a perfect eighth inning with two strikeouts against the Yankees on Saturday.

"The only conversation we had was about what I was thinking or how I would feel as the closer," Chapman said through interpreter Tomas Vera. "I said I'd feel great with however you guys want to use me. The conversation we had, nothing was affirmed about what was going to happen. It was just a conversation."

The Reds have been using Chapman in a setup role and Marshall as the closer because of injuries to Ryan Madson, Nick Masset and Bill Bray.

"Chapman was going to be in the rotation," Baker said. "We had to revamp and come up with a Plan B. We'll see about a Plan C."